Empowering Young Adult Carers: A Vital Conversation at BBC Scotland

This week, Carers Trust and Movement to Work joined forces to host a dynamic roundtable event at BBC Scotland in Glasgow.

The event was designed to bring together young adult carers from across Scotland and some of the UK’s top employers, including M&S, Tesco, SSE Energy, Starbucks, Diageo and BBC Scotland.

The goal? To shine a spotlight on the challenges faced by young adult carers and to discuss how employers can better support them in accessing job opportunities and thriving in their careers.

Being a young adult carer is no easy task. These young people often balance their caregiving responsibilities with their education, social life, and aspirations for the future.

This can have a profound impact on their health and their ability to access and sustain employment. The roundtable aimed to address these issues by bringing the voices of young adult carers directly to the table with employers who have the power to make a difference.

Focus Sessions: Raising Aspirations and Thriving in Work

The event featured two key focus sessions: "Raising Aspirations and Accessing Work" and "Remaining and Thriving in Work." These discussions were crucial in identifying the barriers that young adult carers face and exploring how employers can help to overcome them.

Key Takeaways

Some of the important insights shared by the young carers during the sessions included:

• Desire for Experience: Young adult carers expressed a strong desire to experience various working environments, such as offices and retail settings. They also want to continue their education and develop new skills.
• Need for Flexibility: Flexibility in the workplace is essential. Many young adult carers need the option to work hybrid schedules and must be aware of their rights to feel confident in their roles.
• Understanding and Support: Young adult carers want employers to recognise their unique challenges and offer appropriate support, such as inclusive job application processes and the inclusion of paid carer leave as a standard benefit.
• Valuing Transferable Skills: Recognising and valuing the transferable skills that young adult carers bring to the table is vital, both during the hiring process and throughout their employment.

Voices of the Young Carers

Some of the young adult carers who participated in the event shared their experiences and reflections on the day:

Kayleigh said, “It was a great opportunity to learn about different things from various companies. Sitting at the roundtable, the companies knew what questions to ask and how to answer them.”

Carson said, “At first, I wasn't sure what to expect and was a bit nervous, but I soon relaxed as I got to talk with the employers. It felt like they truly listened to us and our concerns and really tried to connect with and empathise with our issues."

"Learning how the companies would work with us to be accommodating was reassuring, knowing they want to help everyone in a similar situation. It was an amazing opportunity, and I'm very thankful for being given the chance to take part in the discussion.”

Lewis said, “The roundtable was really helpful. The companies knew the right questions to ask, and we were able to provide a lot of useful feedback.

The organisers asked good questions that allowed us to give the most effective input. I also learned some other effective ways to apply for work and how to communicate my caring role to future employers.”

As the event wrapped up, BBC Scotland offered the young adult carers a tour of their premises, providing a glimpse into the world of media and broadcasting—a fitting end to a day dedicated to broadening horizons and building futures.

This roundtable marks a significant step in the ongoing effort to support young adult carers in Scotland and beyond. By bringing together the voices of young adult carers and leading employers, Carers Trust and Movement to Work are helping to create a more inclusive and supportive work environment for all.

The Young Carers Futures programme

This roundtable was part of the broader Young Carers Futures programme, which connects young adult carers with leading employers across the UK. The programme is unique in its focus on helping businesses understand the impact of caregiving on young people's lives and how they can be better supported in their career journeys.

Carers Trust, as the largest national organisation supporting carers, is committed to amplifying the voices of young adult carers. Insights from this roundtable will inform their strategic work and influence policy at both the national and local levels.

Movement to Work (MtW) helps employers deliver high-quality employability opportunities for young people aged 16-30 facing barriers to work. As a registered UK charity, MtW offers free support to businesses interested in tackling youth unemployment.

Since 2013, Movement to Work has helped deliver over 185,000 youth opportunities UK wide, resulting in positive outcomes for more than 89% of participants, who have gone on to secure further employment, education, or training.

MtW's mission is to help young people gain access to valuable work experiences and to expose organisations to diverse, untapped talent.

More information on Movement to Work.